PCOS - what is your story?

Hey Megs, good to hear from you. Good luck for Wednesday, I'll be thinking of you all xxoo

Im at another stage of my cycle this month where I am disillusioned and "over it" big time. It seems that I haven't O'd again this month, even though I took clomid. I am going to phone my fertility specialist I think and get monitored. I really really really don't want to do that though, its just that time is marching on and Im still not pg and I am starting to think that it is never going to happen ever again.

Stupid PCOS! I hate having this dumb "syndrome"!!!

sorry for the "down" post girls.....

Just had to vent :(

Hi Everyone

Have any of you ever been on the pill "Estelle'? My FS just prescribed it for me as due to my recent m/c I'm not really ready to TTC again just yet, everything is just too recent and painful. She said if I was to take a break for a few months then I should go on the pill as it's not good to go long periods without AF. She said Estelle would help with the acne, hair etc and as soon as I'm ready I can start Clomid again anyway, so being on the pill will just regulate everything and give me control over my cycle and when I try again. Prior to TTC I had no idea that I had PCOS so was not on any pill specifically to treat PCOS symptoms.

I really hope it works and that I soon have beautiful clear skin - how wonderful that would be! :)

Megs, I read your post yesterday and was thinking of you today when my FS asked me if I had much problem with unwanted hair..... YES! Funny thing was, yesterday I actually 'de-haired' my belly as I knew my FS would want to check out how my scars were healing (had a lap about 2 weeks ago for suspected ectopic pg). So I proudly showed her my hairless tummy, it was very funny!! Must say though - man it hurt when I got rid of the hair!! I used my silk epil.... ouch! And it made me realise that I was a hell of a lot hairier than I previously thought as those 'fine hairs either side' were longer and courser than I would have liked! So revolting

Belmarks - have you O'd on previous Clomid cycles? I've only every done one cycle and I O'd but I have heard that sometimes it works one month and not the next. Hope your FS had some answers for you. It WILL happen for you so try to stay positive, sometimes things just dont happen as quickly as we would like them to.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Fi

not been on estelle but i have tried others, it should clear up acne nicely it did mine. However i discovered i cant take oestrogen, as i suffer from migrane and it amplifies it, so they put me on the depo provera injection, which helps...no periods yay! ....acne Boo!

Trying to find a compromise between me and my DF is hard. Hes now saying wait until my US health insurance comes through, but some policies take up to 2 years to take effect which is stupid!

Hi Girls,

Just been reading through this forum and decided that i had to reply.
I am 25 and even though i have not been diagnosed with PCOS i think i might have it and i am petrified!
My symptoms include

irrational behaviour/thoughts
moodiness
bad skin
sleepless nights (at times)

We have just decided that we will TTC and i am so scared that it is not going to happen. I have bought some ovulation test thingys but im so scared that i will not be ovulating at all.

My periods were regular in my teens then i had a dull annoying paing in my right side. i went for ultrasounds and i had a 13cm long x 5cm blob. Which i am still not sure what it was. The next night i had sharp stabbing pains in my abdomen and was doubled over in pain, i went to the doctor the next day and after ultrasounds were done they put it down to the blob was an egg that didnt release as normal and therfore burst. After reading a few articles i have realised that this may have been a etopic pregnancy..? but why wasnt this picked up?

I was then put on the pill and then onto Depo as my periods on the right hand side became painful. Does this sound normal?? Should i be getting myself checked?

I was so relieved to find that there are more people like me out there who have these symptoms, i thought i was some kind of freak, i hate these symptoms and i just want them to go away. I would really love to be able to fall pregnant, but i have this feeling in the back of my mind that i will not be able to.

Sorry for the neverending story guys, i just need to speak to someone!.. help anyone!? :(

Any unusual pain should be checked hun and your symptoms do sound like pcos which isnt always picked up on an US mine werent i had to have a laporoscamy however its spelled. So if you think you have it push your doc to give you one. The regular (combined) pill should relieve the excess hair symptoms and acne and stuff but the rest you usually have to deal with im afraid :( If you need to talk just send me a pm i may take a while because im in the uk but i will do my best. :)

Hi Missy82, my best and only advice for you at this stage is to get a referral to a fertility specialist and get checked properly. I know that the internet is a wonderful thing these days, but it can make even the sanest of us "self diagnose" because there is so much information available. But truly, you are best to go and see your gp and ask to see a specialist if you are worried that you may have PCOS symptoms. Do you still have irregular periods?

Hi Fi - haven't even heard of "estelle" but I hope it works. I just dont understand why these drs are so gung ho about putting us all on the pill like its a magical cure for what we've got, it just masks what is really going on underneath. And I just think that if you are trying to fall pregnant, why do they put you on the pill? isn't that defeating the purpose?

I always say "get a second opinion" especially if you are unsure about what your gp/fs is telling you...

Megs, hows your dad?

Lynn how are you hun?

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to give sufferers of PCOS a little hope, and I mean only a little!!!

I was diagnosed with PCOS a little under a year ago, I am 23. I have always had excess hair growth and was always teased in school (blondie too which means no Lazer Hair Removal for me grrrrr), prone to breakouts and extremely moody. I was put on the pill when I was 15 because I was getting AF every 2 weeks and have never known life without the pill till just before I was diagnosed.

I went into hospital while O/S with extremely painful AF pains and although I was put on Codine I still could not move, so as soon as I got back to Aus I went to a specialist. I chose to stay off the pill when I was diagnosed because I found that the pains were much less severe although I was lucky to get AF once every 3 or 4 months.

When I was diagnosed I was also told that I wasn't producing a normal amount of Endometrium. I was severely underproducing it. I am not sure if that is one of the symptoms of PCOS or not. Either way I wasn't fazed in the slightest, even though I knew it meant I would have difficulty having kids. All I ever wanted was my own family (after a very big struggle with my childhood) but life plans had changed and I wanted to join the Police Force.

So I went in for a Lap, they removed some fluid from previously burst cysts and another large cyst from my left ovary. It was then that I was told for the first time that my left ovary was in a terrible state. Again I wasn't too fazed, however, my grandparents cried.

I went back on the pill after my BF moved in, I guess just to be extra safe, but found that I was back to the crippling pain and once the packet was up decided to look for a Cervical Cap instead (not easily obtained so I learnt).

Try to understand this...... I honestly can't.

I went off the pill for 5 months, back on for 3 months and then off again for 1 month.
I fell pregnant naturally within that month and am now 8 weeks (keeping our fingers & legs crossed I will stay that way, but it never leaves my mind how scared I am of a MC).

My cousin has been on Clomid for 6 months and nothing. She also had PCOS.

Although it was never a decision, I was looked down on because I was so close to finishing my year long application for the Police and cancelled it. How could I not though?? What if this was my only chance?? Some people just don't understand.

My new doctor now says that I only had PCO (can he puhleeesssseee explain the fuzz on my chin then) but in the same tone also tells me I am very lucky.

Point of all this is...... it does happen. Everyone is different to everyone else.

Change of topic a little....

I was very interested and surprised to hear a few of you have had drilling. As far as I knew it wasn't very widely practised and was seen as a last resort for doctors. It must have been awful but it was what I was thinking of requesting if I ever came to the point where I was trying to have kids and it just wasn't happening for me.

On a final note....

I always felt that If I hadn't been on the pill, implant, depo then back to the pill I wouldn't have even had the problems that I did. Medical research though says otherwise.

I HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE that PCOS is controlled by the Pill. In the same way they 'control' HIV with medication. The pill feeds your body the hormone that your ovaries are lacking to produce, it helps to prevent diabetes and if you find a good enough pill slows excess hair growth, but more important it stops your body from ovulating (or in PCOS case, trying to). By stopping your ovaries from trying to release an egg you are stopping the production of cysts. Cysts are semi-mature to mature eggs that were never able to be fully released by the ovary (due to lack of hormones I think). Prevention of cysts means prevention of further Laps to remove cysts and in worst case scenarios lifetime infertility from a cyst that has twisted around a fallopian tube.
I am no researcher, nurse or doctor though, so if you want to know more I would find a doctor that is happy to sit down and talk to you about the condition.

Thanks for your story D. There are constantly new innovations in the treatment of PCOS, and one of those which is current is that the pill is not so good for women with PCOS. It seems like each week there is some one coming forward with a new technique or new research that suggests something different to the "gospel" that we have been given previously by our drs.

As far as i am concerned, it is an extremely "unknown quantity" because every woman presents with different symptoms and PCOS is actually different for each women in the way that their hormones cope or don't cope with the problem.

I have been told that there is always hope for falling pregnant because you DO still ovulate, however, its just not as regular or predictable as women who don't have PCOS.

Good luck with the pregnancy, I hope it all goes smoothly for you.

Where are the rest of the lovely PCOS ladies??? Hope you are all well xxoo

Hey everyone,

Thanks Belinda for checking on me. I haven't been around much because of a few things going on. I haven't been coping well with many things, especially coming up to Cooper's first birthday and then last Sunday I ended up in hospital because I was having contractions. I spent most of last week there and now I am on complete bedrest and I just have to try to keep *Hope* cooking for as long as I can............every week is a bonus now. So far my cervix is still long and closed so I just have to keep the contractions down so it doesn't change.

Belinda I have been thinking about you. Have you met with your FS? What is the plan this month?

Megs how is your dad going?

Hi to everyone else

Hi all-
I was diagnosed with PCOS in about 2002 formally- but it was always assumed I had it anyway.
My main symptoms are :
totally erratic periods- time between and length once I have them
pill never actually works properly.
Insulin resistance
and ancanthosis nigracans- black/brown velvety splotches on the back of my neck and between my boobs.- which Ive had since 3- always got accused of having a dirty neck!
moodiness etc.
extreme obesity- main reason why insulic resistance should have been picked up earlier- I put on 8 ounces a week since birth- on breast milk, and just kept on packing it on, even though I was extrememly active.
Have been on metformin, which makes me very sick.
Was on clomid for 6 months with an IUI in the last month and a full cycle of IVF with 18 eggs retrieved, 7 fertilised, one put back in and none frozen.
Went on the pill again this year for a month, went off it cause it wasnt working properly. Didnt get my period for 7 weeks after the withdrawl bleed and thought nothing of it- until I found out I was 6 weeks pregnant.
oh- and I had been ttc for 2 1/2 years before the clomid!

If that doesnt annoy the hell out of anyone who has been TTC for a long time- nothing will! It annoys me!

Hi all-
I have just been reading through your thread and thought i mite post. I dont have PCOS but do suffer from PCO.
In my teens my AF was all over the place going 6 months in between AF then a few weeks, and like this constantly till i ws 16. I went to the GP who prescribed the pill. Once on the pill my period was regular but extreamly heavy. I suffer from weight problems, moodiness and have trouble sleeping. At 19 i feel preg on the pill with my DS (now 3) but it wasnt until we started TTC with our second that i noticed something was wrong. After when DS turned 2 (nov 06) i stopped my pill only to not get AF the first month after. I thought WOOO HOOO that was easy must be preg. wited a few weeks just to make sure and still nothing. So i took myself to the GP who did a PG test and some Bloods. Both came back neg so he said just to wait till AF came back. Come march of this year still no AF so off i went to the GP. He sent me for an US and it came back that i had PCO. GP then did lots of BT's to see if i had PCOS but all came back with good results. His diagnosis is i didnt have the "syndrome" just the ovary prob. Also saying i would probably not be able to convieve as i wasnt getting AF. Devistated that at 23 i "could not concieve" i did nothing but cry for weeks. I became deeply depressed and DP was starting to get worried. He tryed to make feel better by suggesting all types of treatments we could try but nothing worked i still felt cheated. By June i took myself to an old family GP who did more BT which showed i wasnt producing any progesterone. After weekly visits and BT for that month he decided to try some progesterone tabs to see if that would help with AF.

After taking the pills 4 tabs a day for 5 days 3 days after (august 11) i had some minor (and i mean minor) bleeding. Wasnt even enough to wear a pad or tampon. (sorry TMI) i treated it as a failed attempt.

In september sometime after trying not to think about my problems i came down really sick. I was throwing up for a week and a half non stop. Eventually i took myself to the docs who thought it may have been a tummy bug. After 4 days of maxalon i still couldnt keep anything down. I went back and he decided to do a PG test- even though he thought it was a long shot. To his surprise and mine i was infact preg.

Now being almost 4 months preg because of the PCO i now have to endure several 3 hour GT tests at different intervals to check for gestational diabetes as the risk of developing it with PCO goes up.

I have always wanted a big family and although preg with number 2 i cant stop thinking bout having more. i realise the same problems will still be there after i have this bubs but it would be nice to just be like other women and fall preg without any hassles or problems.

Hi Ladies,
sorry i havent been on here to chat...ive been in hospital with a chronic trapped nerve i couldn't move from pain. I have pain medication now for it which is good seeing as im seeing my DF next saturday. Because of problems with his school and mine weve been fighting a lot. Another factor is he went back on his word on trying again in two years and now wants to wait FIVE years, and says if i love him i will basically shut up and deal with it. He takes no account for my wants and needs and its so unfair its always about him....men are so selfish.

Hi girls,

Sara, its hard isn't it. I guess you have to make a decision about what you want and whether you are willing to wait. If your DF is worth is (if you love him I mean) then I guess it is worth the wait. Its still very hard though, especially when you know you want something so much. Keep positive matey xxoo

Hi Jess, thanks for your story, what a great success you had. All from progesterone tabs?? I wish I had tried them...

Hi Neeky, thanks for joining in. Wow you sound like you've been through the ringer a bit hun. Its a bloody awful "syndrome" to have isn't it. I hate it most of the time and feel robbed/cheated most of the time. Its been a good final result for you though - achieving a pg. Good luck with it xxoo

Hi Lynn, wow, you've had a bit of a rough trot. How are you feeling now? Lets just hope that you have no more contractions and things settle for you xxoo

Well, there will be no more babies for me. My husband and I have separated. He is extremely depressed and doesn't know what he wants out of life. He was making me depressed too so its probably a good thing that he's gone. Long story, but we moved house and a week after that he decided that he didn't want to be with me anymore, he told me he wasn't happy. He stayed around for a week while he "decided" what he wanted to do, which was stuffing with my head, so I ended up asking him to leave. Not sure what will happen now, but all I know is that I cannot and will not put up with his rubbish anymore. I am the only one that can make "me" happy, so that's what I plan on doing, putting myself first for once...Its sad, and Im upset for Coby, but it wasn't my decision to split our family up, and one day he will have to explain that to Coby himself...

Belinda, sorry to hear about you separating from your husband. Its good that you are putting yourself first for once it may be the confidence booster you need. I'm sure when Coby is older he will understand that it wasn't your decision to break the family up as you will be the one thats always there for him when he needs you.

As for my DF Michael I do love him, more than anything. I just get so hurt and angry that everything has to be the way that HE wants it. We have to have kids when he decides. He doesn't understand how badly I crave for a baby, a family. I burst out in tears when i hear someone I know is pregnant, its not because I'm jealous, i do want what they want, but its because I'm trying my hardest to wait yet it seems absolutely everyone around me is having babies and it feels so unfair. Michael sees me hurt every day about it but wont do anything about it. Maybe if he sees how hurt I am in person he will do something about it.

Oh Belinda I am so sorry. I don't know what else to say other than look after yourself and of course Coby. I'm glad you are going to put yourself first. I hope you have lots of love and support around you. Big hugs to you babe :hug:

Sara I hope you and your DF can come to an agreement soon so that you are both happy.

Jess congrats on your pg! Thanks for sharing your story.

neekyv thanks for sharing your story. I hope you get that magical bfp very very soon

Hi ladies - Today I had an ultrasound, as past of a post miscarriage (19wks 2d) follow-up. The technician told me I had multpile small polycystic cysts on both ovaries. I was very scared but she said I shoudln't worry because my period has always been normal. I am totally worried and have not heard from my doc yet. I had an u/s at 5 weeks pregnant when I was having some bleeding. At that time they didn't say anything about multiple polycystic cysts. I just had one time cyst on my left ovary which they said is normal and most women get them after ovulation and then it disappears. So I guess these new cysts came during my pregnancy. So I wanted to know if ladies had any thoughts for me as to what this all means. Thanks for your help.

Barbara

Anthonysmom- Hi- Polycystic ovaries are what i have... as i wasnt getting AF my GP was concerned and this caused me to have issues concieving. The cause can be many things. In a womans cycle she makes 2 hormones. My GP discribed it to me like this- First a womens body produces estrogen which starts your cycle preparing the egg for release, then your body starts to produce progesterone which causes the egg to be release from the ovary. The cause of my polycyctic ovaries is from my body not producing any progesterone. When the estrogen does its job it causes the egg to come to the top of the Ovum but without the progesterone it cannot be fully formed and released therefore kind of scarring the ovum (or basically the egg dies and stays on the surface causeing a small scar like cyst).

I was told that they dont go away but treatment is available depending on the cause you may have to speak with a GP or OB/GYN or even FS to do some tests. I still have the PCO but with a course of progesterone tabs was able to get AF and fall pregnant. But do yourself a favour and get checked out. I was told by the first GP who diagnosed the problem that i couldnt have any children and with in a month of seeing another GP fell pregnant.